Academic Support Services:

Tutoring

If you experience difficulty in any of your courses, need extra instruction in a course that is particularly difficult or need help with developing studying strategies, place a request for a tutor with the Office of Academic Services as soon as possible. Waiting until the midterms may be too late to improve your grade so don't delay in seeking assistance.

You may schedule regular weekly or "as-needed" appointments with your PAL tutor. Additionally, with particularly difficult courses, you can take advantage of dropping in during one of our Supplemental Instruction sessions. The Geauga Campus offers tutoring at no costs for any Kent State University students.

We offer two types of tutoring:Peer Assisted Learning and Supplemental Instruction. Also offered is the Writing Consultation Lab that is open to any students needing help with their research papers.

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) is a free tutoring service which provides one-on-one and small group tutoring by appointment for those students who are interested in regular, weekly tutoring assistance or on an as needed basis. If there is a large request for tutoring in certain subjects, walk-in tutoring sessions will be offered in block time sessions during certain days of the week. Every effort will be made to accommodate an individual's schedule, but this is not a guarantee.

PAL objectives:

To improve grades in LERs and core course requirements

To prepare for quizzes and exams

To learn good study habits

To organize time and thoughts effectively

Click hereto download an application to request for a PAL tutor. Be sure to specifically mention if your campus tutoring needs are at Geauga Campus or the Regional Academic Center.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a program designed to help students succeed when they are enrolled in academically demanding courses. SI is open to all Kent State University students enrolled in the course and is available at no extra cost to the students. These SI sessions are led by qualified professionals who have thorough knowledge of the course. SI instructors help students master information by reviewing lecture notes, book materials, taking practice quizzes and exam, and improving study skills.

SI offers:

At least a one-hour SI session before or after the class lecture for students' convenience throughout the semester

The opportunity to meet other students in the class to discuss course materials

The chance to reinforce what was taught in the classroom

The potential to earn a better grade in the course

Click hereto view the Supplemental Instruction schedule for the Spring 2015 semester for the Geauga Campus & the Regional Academic Center. Check back periodically as the schedule may change.

The Office of Academic Services is always looking for bright motivated students willing to become a PAL tutor. If you would like to make a difference, get paid for helping others in your favorite subject and have a flexible schedule, then sign up to be a PAL tutor today!! Qualified candidates must have a willingness to assist students and communicate the course materials effectively.

Click here to download the PAL Tutor application or simply stop by the Student Services Office to fill out an application today!

For more information, contact Ben Morrison, Coordinator of Academic Services, at 440.834.3726 or bmorri11@kent.edu.

Writing Consultants are available to help all students improve their critical thinking and rhetorical skills. Students needing another perspective on the ideas in their academic essays can see a consultant for a 15 minute session (longer if other students are not waiting for help). Our goal is to help you become a better critic of your own writing so you become more proficient at practicing the writing process, gathering, developing, and organizing your ideas.

When you attend a session, you should bring

your copy of the St. Martin's Handbook,

a printout of the assignment,

a printout of your notes or draft, and

paper, pen/pencil or a digital device (laptop, tablet, or smartphone) to take notes during our discussion.

During this session, you should expect the consultant to help you understand the assignment directives, how to respond critically and accurately to your essay, and how to interpret and respond to peer commentary.

But, you do not need to have a draft for a consulting session: bring what you have. It is better to come with a list of ideas as soon as you can, than wait until just before the assignment deadline with a draft. Revision takes time and thought, and the more time you allow for your thoughts to develop, the more successful assignment you'll compose.

If you have written …

Nothing, we can unpack the assignment directives understand the assignment.

Ideas, we can work on invention: discovering ideas and perspectives.

Notes or an outline, we can work on invention and arrangement/organization.

A partial draft, we can work on developing ideas and clarifying your thesis so you express your ideas more fully.

A draft, we can examine how well you discovered, developed, supported and organized your ideas.

Note that this is NOT a proofreading or editing service. If you need help with grammar, style or editing concerns, the consultant can help you find, understand and apply the relevant sections of the St. Martin's Handbook.

Consultants are available only on a first-come, first-served basis (no appointments) at the time and location indicated below. If many students are waiting for a consultation with similar issues, the consultant may work with several students as a group.